In a surprising turn of events, a strategic space project of the German Bundeswehr has been saved from a potentially disastrous outcome.
According to a report by the German news magazine Spiegel, the Bremer satellite manufacturer OHB has successfully managed to deploy the radar antennas on two surveillance satellites, already launched into space, for the Bundeswehr’s “Sarah” program. The satellites, designed to provide high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface, had been transported to the US base at Ramstein and launched from California on a SpaceX rocket at the end of 2023. However, the antenna masts with their sensitive radar sensors had failed to extend.
The “Sarah” program is considered a core component of the Bundeswehr’s modernization of its strategic reconnaissance capabilities. The successful deployment of the antennas is particularly good news for the manufacturer OHB, which had already prepared to build two new systems. The Bundeswehr is currently planning a significant upgrade of its space programs to better prepare for national and alliance defense.